With the introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009 in the U.S. Senate, Texas Impact's Board of Directors has issued an open letter to Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn regarding the moral obligation to care for the creation, and invites all Texans to endorse the letter in the space provided below.
Dear Senators Hutchison and Cornyn,
As people of faith, God calls on us to be good caretakers of the Earth's gifts—protecting air and water quality, as well as ecosystems and human communities. The U.S. has a particular moral obligation as a global good neighbor to embrace the safest, cleanest, and most sustainable sources of energy to protect and preserve God’s creation. We urge you to pass strong energy and climate legislation that addresses issues of stewardship and justice. In particular, we call on you to increase the percentage of renewable energy used in the United States through a strong Renewable Energy Standard (RES).
Texas was the first state in the U.S. to adopt a renewable energy standard, signed into law by then Governor George W. Bush. Texas’ experience, and the experiences of other states that have followed our lead, show that a robust RES is a practical, effective, market-based strategy. A strong RES provides a number of benefits for individuals, families and local communities. The examples of towns like Sweetwater, Texas, underscore the long-term economic benefits of the RES and prove that affordable, reliable power, local economic development and caring for the creation go hand-in-hand.
Recent studies have shown that a strong renewable energy standard would reduce electricity prices for consumers, a benefit especially for those living in poverty who already spend a significant portion of their paychecks on energy. Both the Energy Information Administration and the Union of Concerned Scientists have highlighted the consumer benefits of a robust RES, estimating that it could save consumers more than $64 billion dollars over the next 15 years. In Texas alone, they estimate that consumers would save over $21 billion in electricity and natural gas bills. This is money back in the pockets of individuals and households, particularly those who are already living in poverty and those struggling in these challenging economic times.
Renewable energy development will provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of individuals around the country by encouraging new businesses and opportunities. Texas has the most renewable energy sources of any state. A national renewable energy industry will provide well-paying, clean and just jobs that will support families and communities throughout our state. Estimates indicate that more that 290,000 jobs nationwide would come online as a result of a 25 percent renewable electricity standard, with many of those new “green jobs” located right here in Texas.
By reducing our use of carbon-based electricity through the expansion of renewable energy sources, we can also reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. In the U.S., the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming is the electric power industry, accounting for about 40 percent of all U.S. emissions. More than 80 percent of these emissions come from older, dirtier coal-fired facilities. Additionally, these power plants are a source of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, which produce smog and exacerbate asthma and other breathing-related illnesses, along with mercury exposure, which causes birth defects. Texas has the highest carbon emissions of any state, as well as the highest per capita electric consumption.
As people of faith, we have long recognized our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation and we are committed to pursuing God’s vision of a restored creation. To do so requires a change in current patterns of behavior and a reordering of our priorities as a nation. As representatives of the faith community, we urge you to do your part and adopt a national energy policy based upon the values of justice and sustainability and including a renewable energy standard that promotes clean and sustainable energy options such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, while moving our country away from coal and other fossil fuels.
We urge you to support a strong renewable energy standard and an energy package that will protect human health, provide jobs, lower consumers’ costs, and curb climate change. Taking such action is a way to act upon the faith-filled call to love, preserve, and protect the integrity of God’s children and all the creation.
Sincerely,
The Texas Impact Board
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